Process and apparatus for forming modular building structures

Abstract

A process and portable apparatus for forming individual or multiple reinforced concrete, hollow core units of a modular building structure in interconnected side by side and/or high rise relationship which apparatus may be sufficiently collapsed to allow for easy removal from the formed and cured hollow core unit to again be used to form additional subsequent, interconnected, hollow core units of the building structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of forming a multi-story building formed from similar hollow core castings comprising the steps of: placing an expandable and collapsible form for forming the inner core of a hollow concrete structure in place in a predetermined position,   forming and curing a pliable concrete mass around the sides and top of said core,   collapsing and removing said core from around the cured concrete mass,   positioning a first group of ground supported supports vertically within said mass so as to extend through said top of said mass a given distance,   mounting roller means on the top ends of said first group of supports,   raising said core above the top of said mass and positioning it on said roller means and moving it over said top until it is in position over said cured mass to be used to form a contiguous hollow core casting on top of the cured concrete mass,   said supports, solely supporting the weight of the form thereby avoiding loading of the cured concrete mass prematurely,   forming and curing a second pliable concrete mass around the sides of said core contiguous with the sides of said cured concrete mass and on top of said core, and when the building is completed, removing said supports.   
     
     
       2. The method of forming a multi-story building set forth in claim 1 in further combination with the steps of: collapsing and removing said core from around the second cured concrete mass,   removing said roller means from the first group of supports,   mounting a second group of supports one on top of each of said first group of supports and causing them to extend through the top of the second cured concrete mass, and   mounting said roller means on the free ends of said second group of supports.   
     
     
       3. A method of forming a multi-story building formed from similar hollow core castings comprising the steps of: placing an expandable and collapsible form for forming the core of a ground supported holow concrete structure in place in a predetermined position,   forming and curing a ground supported pliable concrete mass around the sides and top of said core,   positioning a group of ground supported supports vertically within said mass so as to extend through said top of said mass a given distance,   collapsing and removing said core from around the cured concrete mass,   raising said core above the top of said mass and positioning it on said ground supported supports over said cured mass to be used to form a contiguous hollow core casting on top of the cured concrete mass,   said supports solely supporting the weight of the form thereby avoiding premature loading of the cured concrete mass,   forming and curing a second pliable concrete mass around the sides of said core contiguous with the sides of said cured concrete mass and on top of said core and supported by said ground supported supports, thereby eliminating loading of the previously placed ground supported pliable mass, and when the building is complete, removing said supports.   
     
     
       4. The method of forming a multi-story building set forth in claim 3 wherein: said group of ground supported supports are positioned within said mass after collapsing and removable of said core from around the cured concrete mass.   
     
     
       5. A method of forming a multi-story building formed form similar hollow core castings comprising the steps of: placing an expandable and collapsible form for forming the inner core of a ground supported hollow concrete structure in place in a predetermined position,   forming and curing a ground supported pliable concrete mass around the sides and top of said core,   collapsing and removing said core from around the cured concrete mass,   positioning a group of ground supported supports vertically within said mass so as to extend through said top of said mass a given distance,   mounting roller means on the top ends of said group of supports,   said supports solely supporting the weight of the form thereby avoiding premature loading of the cured concrete mass,   raising said core above the top of said mass and positioning it on said roller means and moving it over said top until it is in position over said cured mass to be used to form a contiguous hollow core casting on top of the cured concrete mass,   forming and curing a second pliable concrete mass around the sides of said core contiguous with the sides of said cured concrete mass and on top of said core and supported by said ground supported supports, thereby eliminating loading of the previously placed ground supported pliable mass until the core and rollers are removed, and when the building is complete, removing said supports.